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IATA urges new global framework on environment

“The biggest challenge for this Assembly is to reach an agreement on a
global solution to manage emissions from international aviation. A
united aviation industry of airlines, airports, air navigation service
providers, manufacturers and general aviation has made ambitious
commitments to cap and eventually cut its emissions. To be successful,
governments must endorse these commitments in a globally agreed
framework,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO, to
a group of delegates attending the ICAO Assembly in Montreal.

The aviation industry is united behind three targets: (1) a 1.5% average
annual improvement in fuel efficiency to 2020, (2) capping net
emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth and (3) cutting emission
in half by 2050 compared to 2005. “No other industrial sector has made
such ambitious global commitments. Even UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
commended the aviation industry as a role model for other industries to
follow,” said Bisignani.

Bisignani highlighted several key elements which could help facilitate global consensus:

Place and Process: The Executive Secretary of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Christiana Figueres,
confirmed that ICAO is the forum for dealing with emissions from
international aviation and that any agreement at ICAO would not, in any
way, impact the position of any state on non-aviation issues discussed
in the UNFCCC process.

Developing Nations: Even within a global agreement, ICAO has a track
record of accommodating the needs of developing states. For example,
ICAO’s global framework for noise reduction included extended timelines
for developing states.

Growth: The industry’s global solution will facilitate growth and the
economic benefits it brings even while reducing emissions. This will be
achieved through the industry’s four- pillar strategy of investments in
technology, more efficient infrastructure, more effective operations and
globally coordinated positive economic measures.

“Major blockers are being removed. The industry is ready. And most
governments agree that a global framework is needed. There are still
some hurdles to overcome, but we are moving in the right direction,”
said Bisignani who noted that important regional groupings and
individual states have indicated their wish for an agreement.

The planned inclusion of aviation into the European emissions trading
scheme in 2012 has helped to focus governments on the urgency of a
global solution. “If this Assembly ends without an agreement, the next
opportunity is 2013. In the meantime the industry would be faced with a
growing patchwork of conflicting and overlapping measures. For example,
against global opposition, Europe would have to try to move forward with
its unilateral emissions trading scheme,” said Bisignani.

“No government or industry player will want to face the consequences of
such a development. It would lead to a breakdown of the global standards
on which global aviation was built, a patchwork of uncoordinated taxes
and schemes, strained bilateral relations and serious challenges on
sovereignty issues,” said Bisignani.

“The livelihoods of 32 million people and $3.5 trillion in economic
activity depend on the success of global aviation. As leaders, everyone
attending this Assembly has a great responsibility to continue building a
safe, secure, efficient and sustainable future for this wonderful
industry. The industry is committed to supporting governments in
reaching agreement on a responsible solution for aviation and the
environment. I am optimistic that we will be successful,” said
Bisignani.

The ICAO Assembly will discuss environmental issues in its Executive
Committee on Thursday 30 September with conclusions to be reported by
the Assembly’s conclusion on 8 October.